Point Place business owners will not be fined for graffiti removal

Two weeks ago, several businesses in the Point Place community were tagged with graffiti. It left many business owners wondering if they were going to get fined by the city for not cleaning up the mess.

Graffiti is a mess that can cost business owners a lot of time and money to clean, but this week, local business owners got some relief.

On Monday, Wendy Bellas, owner of Flag Shop and Repair, said a member from the city's board of inspections stopped by her store and informed her she would not be fined for the graffiti on the side of her building. This came as a sigh of relief for Bellas - and many other owners - after the city threatened to charge them $300 if they did not remove the paint within 72 hours.

Jordan Myers, 18, was arrested for the crime and charged with four counts of criminal damaging. Bellas feels he should clean up the mess.

"I feel wonderful. It's just a lot of less stress you have to worry about. We can just deal with the whole situation. We can come to an agreement and get something done," said Bellas.

Bellas said she received a letter to go to court next Friday to find out what Myers' punishment will be. She hopes everyone who was affected will also be there.

A pair of gorillas now make their home at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The zoo is welcoming two new female gorillas ahead of World Gorilla Day, Sept. 24. "Fredrika" (or Freddy) is 43-year-old from Zoo Miami in Miami, FL and 26-year-old and "Kebi Moya" (or Kebi) comes to Cleveland from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, OH.

A pair of gorillas now make their home at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The zoo is welcoming two new female gorillas ahead of World Gorilla Day, Sept. 24. "Fredrika" (or Freddy) is 43-year-old from Zoo Miami in Miami, FL and 26-year-old and "Kebi Moya" (or Kebi) comes to Cleveland from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, OH.